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Alicia Parrish
Director, Owner, Certified Gyrotonic®
Trainer
A Bay Area native and mother of three, Alicia has been teaching
classical ballet for over 15 years. She has trained since the age of 5 at bay
area classical ballet schools including the Oakland Ballet. As a dancer, she has
performed soloist roles in ballets such as A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Sleeping
Beauty, as well as the Snow Queen and other roles in productions of The
Nutcracker. She also has early childhood training and education experience
through the state of CA. As an older teen and young adult she trained
extensively under Magdalene Parungau-Ferla, Director of Dance Theatre
International, giving her the opportunity not only to train under but to learn
to teach from and dance alongside the highest caliber of world class dancers and
teachers from world renowned companies such as the Hamburg Ballet, Ballet Bejart,
San Francisco Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet and others. This
has helped to mold the teacher she is today. More recently Alicia served as
Artistic Director for the non profit youth company, Eastside Youth Dance Theatre
in the 2006 full length production of “A Nutcracker Story.” She founded Issaquah
Dance Theatre in 2001 starting with just several students in one small studio
space. Many of those same students continue at IDT today. Alicia’s love of
movement drew her to train to become a certified GYROTONIC® Trainer in 2005
under Master Trainer Karen Mullen, which in turn enhances her qualifications as
a ballet teacher. Her students are not only technically precise but have learned
how to work in ways that promote healthy habits and reduce the risk of injury.
Alicia is a favorite amongst all of her students, known for her passionate,
inspirational and energetic approach to teaching students of all ages, from the
toddlers to adults.
Scott Parrish, B.A., LMP, CSP,
Reiki Master Teacher, Co-Owner
From San Jose, CA; Scott was a member of the “South Side Breakers”,
a break dancing squad in the SF Bay Area, and danced with the
performing dance group “Soul Fathers.” At this time he pursued
interests as an MC (rap artist), spending four years in the
music industry working with various producers and performing at many
venues when he went on to
produce
and release his own single in the group, “Triple da Soul”,
called “My Inspiration,"
opening for “Naughty by Nature” in the early 90's.
Scott substitute teaches for our hip
hop classes at IDT.
In the meantime, he is an
extremely skilled and respected massage therapist and body worker
holding his biology degree from UC Santa Cruz...
where he greatly misses the surf!
Danelle Brust-Watson
Danelle is
both instructor and AXiS Dance Company founder at IDT. She started studying dance and gymnastics at the age
of 2 from her mother, who has run a large successful
dance school in Indiana for over 30 years. She received
a BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase
and performed in several companies in New York City. She
has performed works by Mark Morris, Martha Graham,
Balanchine, Jose Limon, Paul Taylor, Kevin Wynn, and
many others. Her choreography for students received
numerous awards including best choreography and high
scoring numbers at national competitions and has served
as a judge at regional talent competitions. She
is also on the faculty at Spectrum Dance Theatre and is a
licensed
massage practitioner from The National Holistic Institute in CA and
through the State of Washington. She is truly passionate as a
teacher for students of all ages. Danelle will be on an
extended leave of absence beginning in May while she assists her
husband in a business venture in Hawaii. We hope she enjoys
her time in the sun and anxiously await her return!
Sally Lowell
Sally has been dancing for over 40 years. She trained at
Oakland Ballet, Houston Ballet and with various teachers in London.
Her stage experience includes performances with the Oakland Ballet.
She holds a RAD teaching certificate from both the children's
levels and the Majors (pre-professional) Levels. She has
served as Director of ballet schools in
California for 10 years, taught at Berkeley Ballet Theatre, East Bay
Center for the Performing Arts, Island Youth Ballet on Mercer
Island, and has choreographed for and directed two youth
companies. She brings to IDT many years of experience
and knowledge as a teacher and developing syllabus for all ballet
levels. She is known for her calm energy in classes, as well
as very creative children's classes where all escape into an
imaginary theme for the day!
Melissa Gould
Melissa Gould is a graduate of San Jose State University where she
received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and was voted "Best
Choreographer". She has been a dance teacher for studios in San Jose
and Las Vegas where many of her dance troupes won National
Championships. During her professional dance career she performed in
Japan, Korea, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Guam and for Norwegian Cruise
Lines. She is a Musical Theatre lover and has choreographed over a
dozen shows for city theatre groups and high schools. Her
choreography has been seen in several dance concerts, musicals,
nightclub revues, fashion shows and choreography showcases. Her
passion for inspiring young dancers led her to create youth dance
companies in San Jose and Las Vegas with repertories including jazz,
tap, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theatre and modern works. A dance
instructor for 22 years, Melissa has students who are now performing
professionally themselves in music videos, Las Vegas productions and
NFL and NBA cheerleading squads. She most recently was a member of
the dance faculty of the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in
Redmond. Melissa is known for her intense dance style, challenging
classes and entertaining choreography.
Gretchen Alterowitz
Gretchen is originally from
Montana where she received her early training in ballet. She has
studied with some of the most well known ballet teachers in the
United States including Patricia Wilde, Basil Thompson, George de la
Pena, and Stanley Holden. This year she is traveling to China to
perform in the cultural festival associated with the 2008 Summer
Olympic Games. Gretchen received her MFA in Dance from the
University of Iowa in 2005. Currently she teaches, choreographs, and
performs in Seattle, WA.
Rachel Gourd
Rachel will be teaching
ballet at IDT this year and filling in for Ms. Alicia while on
Maternity leave. She received her ballet training at The
School of The San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Cornish College
of the Arts, Steps on Broadway and other notable schools, and
additionally holds a Bachelor's Degree with High Distinction from
The University of Minnesota. She has trained under revered
teachers of American ballet such as David Howard, Maria Tallchief
and Laryssa Sklyanskaya. Rachel also teaches ballet at
Spectrum Dance Theatre in Seattle. Welcome, Rachel!
Robyne Henderson
Robyne has been teaching and working with children for over 20
years. She has a B.A. from Cal State Fullerton in Musical Theatre
and has spent many years teaching creative movement, ballet, tap and
jazz dance classes, music, drama, acting, and musical theatre
classes, has been a substitute in the public school system, and has
even taught horseback riding lessons for kids. Currently, Robyne
teaches preschool music and is in the process of launching her own
music and movement program. She's been a mom for over eight years.
She has also enjoyed a career as a professional performer. A member
of the Actors Equity Association, Robyne has performed all over the
U.S. in musicals and plays. She has sung with several jazz and pop
bands, and has appeared in commercials and films. Recently, she
spent a lot of time in the recording studio at McGraw-Hill creating
voices for interactive learning videos. Last year she spent
the holiday season dancing and caroling along Snowflake Lane in
downtown Bellevue. Robyn is amazing with the children and we
are proud to have her on the resident faculty here at IDT!
Emily Andres
Emily will be teaching some of our children's classes this year at
IDT!
Her training began
here in the Seattle area and continued on with
the ballet conservatory at the
Washington Academy of Performing Arts. Emily has completed her
Classical Ballet and Modern Exams administered by The Royal Academy
of Dance in England and was accepted into The Universal Ballet
Summer Program in Washington D.C. Her repertoire includes
various performances and major works including Cinderella, The Blue
Bird, Secret Garden, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Le
Bayadere, Tarantella and the Love Pas De Duex. Emily has also
danced with New Vision Dance Company under the direction of Melissa
Gould. In addition to her extensive ballet training, she has
also studied for years in Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theater,
Choreography and other contemporary styles. She has a
wonderful, sweet and caring personality that the children love.
Welcome to IDT, Emily!
Mandy Riedinger,
Student Apprentice
Mandy has served as apprentice and assistant teacher for IDT during the past
2006-07 school year and has been a protégé of Ms. Melissa since they met at the
Washington Academy of Performing Arts in the musical theater department.
Mandy is a beautiful and passionate dancer who has trained in many different
dance disciplines for the past 10 years. She has won numerous high
scoring, best overall awards and scholarships at regional and national dance
competitions and recently auditioned for the hit reality TV show, "So You Think
You Can Dance?" Her commitment level and positive attitude are contagious!
While in college and continuing her own dance training, Mandy will be performing
with us at IDT, training as an apprentice teacher with IDT for 2007-08
school year as well as assisting higher level classes.
Hillary Pond
Hillary holds a degree in
Modern Dance from Brigham Young University, and teaches children's
movement and tap classes at many different studios in the Seattle
and Eastside cities. She has over 5 years
experience teaching children's classes of all ages and currently
teaches tap and creative dance here at IDT.
Elizabeth Bray
From San Diego, CA, Elizabeth
danced with the California Ballet and New West Ballet where she
performed principal and soloist roles in Ballets such as The
Nutcracker and Coppelia among many others. She taught and
choreographed there and at Palomar College. She later continued to
dance as a student at Northern Arizona University. Elizabeth is a
mother of two and a mom here at IDT. After taking some time away to
focus on the most important job of being a mother, dance has come
back into her life after meeting Melissa Gould and joining her New
Vision Dance Company 2 years ago. Elizabeth began substitute
teaching for us this winter and plans to stay on as a permanent
teacher for the 2008-09 school year.
Former and Substitute
Teachers
Yanina ("Yana") Mikhaylyuk
Yana trained
at the Professional Ballet Academy in Khabarovsk, Russia. She
holds a Master's Degree in Folk Artistic Work from the St.
Petersburg Art University with Natalia Dudinskaja. She has
performed professionally in musical theater in Russia since the age
of 10. Since living in Washington, she has taught classical
ballet at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts, Ballet Bellevue
and has held master classes at the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Yana is now a mother of two, has earned herself a following of
students throughout the Eastside.
Lina Korsmo Johnson
Lina was trained at Skagit Valley Academy of Dance in Mt. Vernon,
WA. At SVAD, Lina trained in classical ballet, jazz, and tap
and performed in The Nutcracker including the lead role of Sugar
Plum Fairy. Lina also competed in numerous Dance Educators of
America competitions where she won a ballet scholarship for her
pointe variation. She attended Houston’s High School for the
Performing and Visual Arts in 1994. Lina earned academic and
dance scholarships to attend Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma
where she received a B.A. in Print/Broadcast Journalism and a Dance
Minor. Lina was a member and choreographer for the PLU Dance
Ensemble. After graduating from PLU, Lina danced
professionally with SD Prism Dance Theatre and Fusion Dance Company
in Seattle. Lina was a lead dancer and assistant choreographer
for Ballet Bellevue’s Jazz Nutcracker in 2002. She has
choreographed local musicals including “Grease” and “You’re a Good
Man, Charlie Brown”. She worked at the Daily Journal of
Commerce as an editor for several years before leaving to pursue
dance full time. Lina has worked with prominent teachers and
choreographers Anthony Manuel, Sonia Dawkins, Duane George, Alice
Bergeson, Elisio Pitta, Frank Hatchett, and attended classes at
Westlake Dance Center, Spectrum Dance, PNBS, and the Gus Giordano
Jazz Dance Center Chicago. Lina is the co-Artistic
Director of Seattle Jazz Dance Company and is currently on her
second maternity leave.
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